The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-08-06
The Yelled PrOphet.
From the N. Y. Sun,

III OGs hOulS, anu SCOOu on the Ddl-
cony of the Southern Hotel waiting
for the procession. The streets below
surged with enthusiastic citizens.
They all threw up their hats and
shouted: "GroYer Cleveland for
1883 !"
1t sounded far off, as shouts do in
dreams, yet the welcome words were
distinctly ineligible.
Then a burst of music announced
that the head of the procession was
nearing the place where the Presi-
dent stood. The guest of the city
started back as if in surprise. For it
was not the rich blare of a full brass
band that he heard, but the sharp
staccato of flies and drums playing a
soldiers march.
The crowd in the streets separated
right and left. "Left! left! left |!
left !" came the measured tread of
the marchers, and the head of the
mighty procession swept by.
This was no carnival scene. The
President looked down the long line,
but not float or a barge or an allie
gorical tableau on decorated wagon
was in sight. No masker, no num-
mers. Nothing but men plainly
dressed in blue, most ofthem, of mid
die age or beyond, marching always
in grim earnest to the music of fife
and drum.
The guest of the city turned indig-
nantly to the chairman of the COM
mittee on entertainment, who stood
just behind him. "What does this
mean? Is an insult intended ?"
The committeeman shook his head
urbanely and put his fingers to his
lips. Then he pointed down the line.
1t seemed to be endless.
Still they came, platoon after pla-
toon. left left left ! left pa
steady. rhythmic tread punctuated
now and then by the clinking beckle
of a pair of iron-shod crutches.
Some of the marchers wore empty
coat-sleeyes pinned upon the breast.
Some of them marched with difficult
ty. None of them glanced up at the
balcony where the guest of the city
stood. They moved straight onward,
as if they were marching to a com.
bat.
The President sighed. II did not
know there were so many of them,n
he said.
On they came-'left! left! left
left !-thousands. tens of thousands
hundreds of thousands of Union vet
Grams. And every few minutes
hoarse cheers went up from the
crowd of spectators that lined the
way. The CHEERS were no longer for
the man on the balcony or for 1888.
They were for the 5ullet-ridden, tat
tered, ragged, and blood stained bat
tie flags that were borne by and for
the memory of the battle years in the
sixties.
The minutes seemed hours to the
President, and the hours seemed an
eternity. while he stood and review
ed the grim paraders, who paid no
heed to his presence. AT last a well
come sound relieved his ears, weary
OF the monotonous tramping. He
heard the rumbling of wheels, "The
Yelled Prophet" somebody shout
ed Here he comes"
AS the massive car approached.
drawn by score of white horses, the
cheering below became continuous.
The guest of the city leaned over the
balustrade, the better to see the pa
geant. The car was handsomely
decorated with flowers and bunting
On the summit of the construction
stood single figure, a man wearing
as a veil over his face the flag of the
United States.
The car stopped just opposite the
hotel entrance. The prophet slowly
removed the veil that had concealed
his features and stood face to face
with the President. He said moth
ing, but stretched his arm forth and
pointed with significant GESTURE to
the long line of veterans ahead, their
backs all turned to Grover Cleveland.
all marching steadily away from him
into the distance.
The President recognized the Veil
ed Prophet. ut is George Brinski,
my substitute !" he murmured. He
turned away and awoke. 1t had been
a bad dream.